First published in 1946, Harry Kroll's portrayal of the legendary Hatfield-McCoy feud (1878-90) is seen through the eyes of six women of the two families. Their Ancient Grudge stands as the last major treatment of this iconic sliver of American culture completed before the story struggle was examined and reinterpreted by of a later generation of historians. Although the brutal cycle of the conflict often takes center stage, the novel is replete with sensitive observations of Appalachian nature and landscape, and most strikingly, the cultural positions occupied by women.
In crafting this...